Denman College
Encyclopedia
Denman College is a residential adult education
college centred on Marcham Park at Marcham
in the English
county of Oxfordshire
(formerly Berkshire
). The college is owned and operated by the National Federation of Women's Institutes (The WI).
of Marcham which was a grange of Abingdon Abbey
. The present house dates from the late 17th century, but was heavily remodelled for Thomas Duffield
in around 1820. Its most well-known resident was Duffield's grandfather-in-law, the infamous miser, John Elwes
.
Residential courses at Denman college last between 2 and 4 days, although non-residential day courses are also offered. Course subject areas include the arts, crafts, languages, history, sport and technology. The college also operates its own cookery school.
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
college centred on Marcham Park at Marcham
Marcham
Marcham is a village and civil parish about west of Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Archaeology:...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
(formerly Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
). The college is owned and operated by the National Federation of Women's Institutes (The WI).
Marcham Park
Marcham Park stands on the site of the original manor houseManor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
of Marcham which was a grange of Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey was a Benedictine monastery also known as St Mary's Abbey located in Abingdon, historically in the county of Berkshire but now in Oxfordshire, England.-History:...
. The present house dates from the late 17th century, but was heavily remodelled for Thomas Duffield
Thomas Duffield
Thomas Duffield was a Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1832 to 1844.Duffield was born at Ancaster in Lincolnshire, the youngest son of Michael Duffield of Sunninghill Park in Berkshire and his wife, Alice, youngest daughter of Jeremiah Crutchley of Southwark in Surrey .Thomas...
in around 1820. Its most well-known resident was Duffield's grandfather-in-law, the infamous miser, John Elwes
John Elwes (politician)
John Elwes [né Meggot or Meggott] , MP, Esq. was a Member of Parliament in Great Britain for Berkshire and a noted eccentric and miser, believed to be the inspiration for the character of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol...
.
Women's Institute College
The college was formally established in 1948, and named after Lady Denman, the first chairwoman of the WI federation. Today, students attending the college do not have to be members of the WI, and the college accepts both male and female learners.Residential courses at Denman college last between 2 and 4 days, although non-residential day courses are also offered. Course subject areas include the arts, crafts, languages, history, sport and technology. The college also operates its own cookery school.